M-042908CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 29, 2008
A special meeting of the Santa Monica City Council was called to order by Mayor Katz at 5:58 p.m.,
on Tuesday, Apri129, 2008, at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street.
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Herb Katz
Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bloom
Councilmember Ken Genser
Councilmember Kevin McKeown
Councilmember Pam O'Connor
Councilmember Bobby Shriver
Absent: Councilmember Robert T. Holbrook
Also Present: City Manager P. Lamont Ewell
City Attorney Marsha Jones Moutrie
City Clerk Mazia M. Stewart
CONVENE/PLEDGE On order of the Mayor, the City Council convened at 5:58 p.m., with
Councilmember Holbrook absent. City Clerk Mazia M. Stewart led
the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CLOSED SESSIONS: On order of the Mayor, the City Council recessed to consider closed
sessions and reconvened at 7:05 p.m., with Councilmember Holbrook
absent, to report the following:
2-A: Conference with Legal Counsel -Existing Litigation:
Friends of the Earth v. Watson, Case No. C 02 01406 (N. D. Cal.)
(global warming litigation).
ACTION: Not Heazd.
2-B: Conference with Legal Counsel -Existing Litigation: In
the Matter of Compliance with Federal Obligations by the City of
Santa Monica, California, FAA Docket No. 16-02-08
ACTION: Heard. No reportable action taken
2-C: Anticipated Litigation: Anticipate significant exposure to
April 29, 2008
litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b): 161
Ocean Park Boulevard.
ACTION: Not Heard.
2-D: Anticipated Litigation: Anticipate significant exposure to
litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b): 2300
Wilshire Boulevard.
ACTION: Not Heard.
2-E: Conference with Legal Counsel -Existing Litigation:
Action Apartment Association v. City of Santa Monica, Case No.
S129448.
ACTION: Heard. No reportable action taken.
ADMIN. ITEMS: 6-A: Appeal of Landmarks Commission technical denial of
2617 3'~ STREET APPEALCertificate of Appropriateness for an addition to a non-
contributing structure at 2617 3rd Street -recommendation to
uphold appeal and approve Certificate of Appropriateness application
for 1,213 square foot addition to anon-contributing structure based on
proposed draft findings, as continued from Apri122, was presented.
On order of the Mayor, with the public hearing having been closed on
Apri122, 2008, the matter was before the Council.
Considerable discussion ensued on the merits of the project and on the
comments received from members of the public during the public
hearing.
Motion b~yor Katz, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bloom, to
remand the project to the Landmarks Commission with suggested
issues for discussion and consideration by the Commission including
but not limited to changing the flat roof to a pitched roof, changing the
exterior dark grey stucco color, re-doing the stain or paint on the
redwood siding, changing window frames and enclosing the patio, a
more modest conformity, and taking into consideration the comments
of all council members. The motion was approved by the following
vote:
2 Apri129, 2008
AYES: Councilmembers O'Connor, Shriver, Mayor Pro Tem
Bloom, Mayor Katz
NOES: Councilmembers McKeown, Genser
ABSENT: Councilmember Holbrook
STAFF ITEMS:
LUCE; CIRCULATION
ELEMENT; TRANSPOR-
TATION; ECONOMIC &
HOUSING PRINCIPLES
Councilmember McKeown stated, for the record that his "no" vote
reflects a belief that a fresh start with a new and substantially different
application would have given the owner, the neighbors, and the whole
city a better chance and a new beginning and an improved focus on
compatibility.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bloom, seconded by Councilmember
O'Connor, to direct staff to return with suggestions on how the type of
conflict exhibited during the hearing for this project can be
ameliorated. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote,
with Councilmember Holbrook absent.
8-A: Integrating Sustainable Santa Monica Principles into the
Land Use and Circulation Element Update: Transportation,
Economic and Housing Principles -recommendation that the City
Council endorse Transportation, Economic and Housing strategies fox
incorporation into the Land Use and Circulation Element Concept
Plan, was presented.
The following members of the public spoke to various aspects of the
recommendation: Joey Fullmer, Jim Ries, Gwynne Pugh, Russell
Sydney, Gary Gordon, Jerry Rubin, David Latham, Mihai Peters, Jon
Luskin, John Bohn, Tom Larmore, Melissa Dagodag, Misti Kerns,
Catherine Eldridge, Arthur Harris, and Tighe Barry.
Motion by Councilmember McKeown, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Bloom, to approve staff recommendation. The motion was
unanimously approved by voice vote, with Councilmember Holbrook
absent.
HOUSING ELEMENT 8-B: Review of Housing Element -recommendation for Council to
review and provide direction on the draft 2008-2014 Housing
Element, as modified, prior to the draft's submittal to the State
Department of Housing and Community Development, was presented.
The following members of the public spoke generally in favor of more
affordable housing, made suggestions and presented opinions: Patricia
Hoffman, Marilyn Korade-Wilson, Betty Mueller, Genise Schnitman,
Michael Tarbet, George Sage, Richard Hilton, Todd Friedman, Billie
Apri129, 2008
Beach, David Neal, Franca Maria Paganucci, Purlene Higgins, Denise
McGranahan, and Ana Maria Jara.
Discussion ensued on the points covered during the presentation and
on the public comments received from members of the public. With
the consensus of Council, direction was given to staff, and on order of
the Mayor, the information was received and filed.
PROPOSITIONS 98 & 99 8-C: Resolution opposing Proposition 98 and supporting
Proposition 99 -recommendation that Council adopt Resolution No.
Councilmember Shriven was 10284 (CCS) entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA
excused at 11:10 p. m. MONICA OPPOSING PROPOSITION 98: LIMITS ON
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY: RVITIATFVE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT; AND SUPPORTING PROPOSITION 99:
EMINENT DOMAIN: ACQUISITION OFOWNER-OCCUPIED
RESIDENCE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT"; direct staff to
send copies of the resolution to appropriate State Government
Officials; and direct staff to educate the public on these Council
positions via the website and appropriate links to other government
agencies, was presented.
Member of the public Michael Tarbet spoke in support of the
recommendation.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bloom, seconded by Mayor Katz, to
approve recommendation and adopt resolution, reading by title only
and waiving further reading thereof. The motion was approved by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Genser, O'Connor, McKeown, Mayor
Pro Tem Bloom, Mayor Katz
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councihnembers Shriven, Holbrook
COUNCIL ITEMS: 13-A: Request of Mayor Katz to direct staff to conduct Economic
ECONOMIC & FISCAL and Fiscal Assessments for Potenfial November 2008 Ballot
STUDY FOR PROPOSED Initiative Entitled "Residents' Initiative to Fight Traffic," was
"RIFT" MEASURE presented.
Members of the public Tom Larmore, Catherine Eldridge, Diana
Gordon and Bruce Cameron spoke generally in support of the request
and made suggestions for a complete study.
4 Apri129, 2008
Motion by Mayor Katz, seconded by Councilmember McKeown, to
approve request to conduct an economic and fiscal assessment,
including traffic impact and pros and cons to ascertain the effects of
the proposed initiative on the city.
Mayor Pro Tem Bloom advised he would like the study to reflect how
the proposed measure "RIFT" will affect: availability for public
services and infrastructure to support new households, the City's
ability to retain businesses already located in the community if they
need to expand; the willingness of new businesses to locate in Santa
Monica; the eight funds that are monitored for purposes of the
education joint use agreement; will the measure's proposed limit on
development drive developments to other communities due to the
unpredictability in the city's process; what will impact of a regional
"RIFT" be on economies of the West side or in all of Los Angeles
County; will there be an impact on business support or on the city's
ability to bring light rail to Santa Monica or the subway to the sea;
ability to demand or negotiate basic infrastructure requirements like
signalization; ability to implement goals of the LUCE in general and
specifically the paradigm shift to zero-net car trips; and, what other
community benefits could be affected.
Councilmember Genser advised that his preferred approach would be
that the study reflect general categories, following some general
umbrella instructions, reviewing what are the effects vs the cost
benefit of the measure, and looking at the general subjects of
economics, traffic, housing employment, infrastructure, quality of life,
transportation, and sustainability.
Councilmember McKeown advised he favored the study because such
information would contribute to an informed electorate, but that his
preference would be that a study show all implications so Council
could see both sides of the impact; suggesting, therefore, that the study
include investigation of the particular points raised int he letter
Council received from the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City.
Mayor Katz' motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers McKeown, O'Connor, Genser, Mayor
Pro Tem Bloom, Mayor Katz
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councihnembers Shriver, Holbrook
Apri129, 2008
REQUEST FOR 13-B: Request of Mayor Pro Tem Bloom that the Council
TRAVEL FUNDS approve the use of City Council travel funds for the " Catalunya-
California Conference on Tourism and Territory in the 21st
Century" in Todos Santos, Mexico, May 16 -May 18, 2008. I have
been invited to speak at the conference by its sponsor, ISOCARP
(International Society of City and Regional Planners), on the
subject of "Redesign of Cities with Relation to Tourism," was
presented.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Mayor Katz, seconded by Councilmember O'Connor, to
approve request. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Genser, O'Connor, McKeown, Mayor
Pro Tem Bloom, Mayor Katz
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers Holbrook, Shriver
On order of the Mayor, the City Council meeting was adjourned at 12:43
a.m., in memory of Mila Raino
ATTEST:
Maria M. Stew~~t
City Clerk
Mayor
6 Apri129, 2008